Dubai: American Independence Day was observed by United States expatriates across the UAE at private functions on Tuesday to mark one of the most important days in the US calendar.
Small pockets of the 60,000-strong American expatriate community took a few minutes out of their day to remember the historical struggle of early Americans to gain independence from Great Britain as witnessed in the signing of the Declaration of Independence by 13 colonies on July 4, 1776.
Both US Embassy and US Consulate offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were closed to mark the holiday. On its Facebook Page, the Consulate said “normal business operations will resume on Wednesday, July 5”.
A pre-Independence Day celebration was already held by US mission staff in February when the weather was cooler to host the event.
Joseph Giblin, economic officer with the US Consulate in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said on Tuesday that he is looking forward to a Friday gathering of American expatriates to celebrate July 4, organised by the American Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
“The 4th of July in the United States is the day we celebrate the birth of our country. We often have picnics and barbecues with our communities, to commemorate the beginning of the country that has allowed us freedom and opportunity to realise our dreams. For me, I take this day to marvel at the fact that despite being the son of a sanitation worker, the United States still afforded me the opportunity to graduate from a good university, go on to law school, become an officer in the US Military, and to eventually become a diplomat. I love the United States!” he said.
Giblin told Gulf News that Friday’s July 4 gathering will be a “good opportunity to reconnect with many good friends, and to make new ones. Like the United States itself, it will be made up of people of all nationalities of the world, held together by a common bond of an appreciation for American culture and values”.
US expats will gather for an invitation-only Independence Day gathering in Dubai at Meydan Hotel from 4pm to 8pm on Friday organised and hosted by the American Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates.
Bilal B. Sabouni, CEO of the American Business Council, said their event marks one of the largest events held by the council every year to honour the long and storied stars and stripes, flutes and fireworks.
“For me, it’s a great time to come together and celebrate everything that America stands for,” Sabouni told Gulf News. “It’s occasions like these that I cherish, we reconnect with our American roots. We are so far away, we can tend to forget our friends and family.”
The casual gathering of ABC members will have an extra US authenticity to the day which will be themed in an old-fashioned picnic with real picnic tables, activities and games for adults and children alike, Sabouni said.
To cap the celebration, the business council has organised a massive fireworks demonstration on the outdoor ground of the Meydan site with lots of red, white and blue colours streaking across the night sky, he said.
Independence Day holds great meaning for Orlando Vidal, chairman of Democrats Abroad (UAE branch). “The 4th of July reminds us as Americans that there were things worth fighting for, like our Independence, which of course we fought for over a year before the declaration was made in 1776 and for seven years thereafter (until 1783),” Vidal told Gulf News on Tuesday.
“Independence did not come easy. Many died and fought for it. It had huge costs. And, of course, no one knew then that the outcome was certain. Today, there are still many things worth fighting for: economic opportunity, justice, equality, civil rights, health care, peace, the rule of law.”
